POISONED!

Published September 22, 2014

Dropped off social for 10 days – sorry folks, life got in the way.

My partner in crime, Ro was poisoned 2 Saturdays ago. Wasn’t sure if this was a subject I’d blog about – sometimes bad things just happen…and to everybody.

pre-Colorado life – couldn’t imagine caring for a pet. Huge COMMITMENT. Couldn’t understand why folks would willingly spend so much time & cash on their pets. Why they cared so much. Just animals, right?

Let’s just say ‘I totally get it now’.

Instead of spewing hate, taking the high road here & focusing on my own growth…as my pet’s companion.

Your dog is seriously ill. We’re not sure how you would like us to proceed.

I slept on the couch with Ro every night for 8 months (to ensure he was 100% potty-trained – first dog, yeah I was a nut). Same dog accompanied me on my hike quest 3 years ago – 52 different hikes in 52 weeks. Same dog crazily/affectionately/enthusiastically greets me every time I come home – tail a wagging…hugs, kisses, ready to play? nothing patient about my Ro, always ready for tug o’ war.

Your dog is seriously ill. We’re not sure how you would like us to proceed.

You need to do everything humanly possible to restore my companion’s health.

Travelled back n forth between 2 hospitals & the vet office. Whole lotta money spent.

The worse part? Going home…alone.

When filing the police report, Ro was referred to as property. how archaic is that? I get they’re not humans – but property? He’s not patio furniture. You’d think in 20-14, we humans could come up with a better legal term for our fur babies.

My workplace was awesome & let me house Ro after being released Tuesday morning. IV gone, but needed to be closely watched – that he could maintain outside of the hospital without 24/7 supervision.

Cancelled plans for Aspen this past weekend.

2 mile walk around Waneka Friday night, 5 mile hike on Saturday. Slept hard each day but little guy is gaining strength fast. Back on regular food, will finish meds tonite – one remaining script for 30 days. Stomach ulcer complication healing.

To the coward who laced beef with rat poison inside a public dog park – I believe in karma.

You will lose everything & everyone you love. You will go hungry. You will wander homeless. You harmed an innocent creature – only God above can save your empty soul.

Joannie So sorry to hear about Ro! You are much more tolerant than I….I would hunt him down for sure! That is just insane and cruel to say the least. Glad he is on the mend…

Leslie Glad to hear Ro is doing better. I had tears in my eyes reading your blog.

Bill No words other than wishing healing

Kanako I believe in Karma. Karma is a bitch!!! I’m glad your partner in crime is getting better! Can’t imagine life without our 4-legged baby especially now Senna and Saf are the best buddies!!!

Amy I’m so relieved that Ro is getting better. I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through, Keenan.

Erin Awwww K* so sorry to hear this! Glad Ro is feeling better. And I hope the POS who did this gets what coming to him/her!

Monica I seriously want to injure someone right now! I’m so glad Ro is okay! I believe in karma too.

Sarge So sorry to hear about Ro being poisoned. What type of person does that crap? Ugh, humans are so much worse than dogs.

Carmel OMG what “dog” does that??? absolutely shocking. soooo so pleased to hear Ro is on the mend though, and yep these fur babies are part of your family and how could you not do everything and anything no matter the cost to have them back being their normal selves again….. we have decided not to have anymore dogs for the time being…..can’t do the heartbreak when something happens. hope you are okay too keenan.

Nivedita 🙁 sending a whole lotta good wishes to Ro to get well soon!

Beth So glad Ro is doing well again. You are a better person then me taking the high road. Can’t stand the thought of this. How sick people can be. So glad you have joined the animal side. How my animals make me laugh!!

Krissy So glad that Ro is on the mend!!!! So sorry for you having to deal with a sick person doing something like this.

Regina Oh no. I hope Ro is going to be ok. Love and prayers sent to you.

Keenan Many thanks for everyone’s kind comments & well wishes. Ro took a bee sting yesterday after attacking a swarm at lunch. Yep, typical dog stuff – life’s back to normal. Love this guy 🙂

Office Ro

Posted in Rowan O'Roark | 6 Comments

Happy Birthday 2014!

Published September 6, 2014

My actual birthday is August 21^st & I spent that day in Yellowstone Nat’l Park.

So celebrating a birthday weekend – a foodie celebration – two weeks later came as a complete surprise.

Foodie celebration? dinner at Via Toscana, lunch at Casa Alegre, breakfast at Lucile’s & ice cream at Sweet Cow.

Additionally, Ash made a cake – first homemade birthday cake in probably 15 years. AND not just any cake – lingonberry cake adorned with mountain peaks & homemade buttercream icing.

Cards, gifts – and a 3 mile Flatiron hike with the dogs.

Happy Happy Birthday to me! Be warned, the bar’s been raised – celebrating birthday month next year 🙂

: mountain lingonberry cake

: Mesa Trail (NCAR to Chautauqua)

: Sweet Cow selfie

: breakfast beignets at Lucile’s

Blanca Peak 14,345ft & Ellingwood 14,042ft

Published August 31, 2014

Labour Day weekend 2014 – what better way to kick off the Fall season than with a 14er hike. Wait – how ‘bout backpacking followed by two 14er summits. Sweet!

Because of work obligations, I could not travel down on Friday with my Fort Collins-based hiking friends, Cammy & Erik so woke early on Saturday, loaded the backpack (with newly acquired camping gear) & hit the highway. Stopping only once along the way, I arrived at Blanca Peak trailhead in under 5 hours (yep, it’s a haul).

Drove a quarter-mile up Lake Como Road & parked – Prius is not the right ride for this extreme off-road trail.

Lake Como Road in the Sangre de Cristos is regarded as one of the roughest in Colorado. Hikers, accessing fourteeners Blanca and Little Bear peaks and Ellingwood Point, hate it. Extreme off-roaders love it.

My 70lb rucksack was crazy heavy. In addition to a tent, sleeping bag & water, I packed poles, a winter jacket, ski cap, gloves & long johns. Who doesn’t in August, right? 🙂

Backpack propped on the hood of my car, I slide under the sack thinking this my best approach to stand upright. 100ft down the road, pop – lost 2 straps. Argh. Jerry-rigged my tent onto the top of the backpack – off I go again.

7 miles UP. Really questioned hauling winter gear with starting hike temps in the low 90’s.

Arrived lakeside 5 hours later (welcomed by Cammy & Erik), tent set-up (super easy, thanks Marmot), filled my stomach (dehydrated food packet & hot water), campsite greet by 4 deer, then crashed an hour later. Early start tomorrow – Blanca awaits!

(After the sun goes down at 12,000 ft, was mighty happy with the jacket & long johns. Just saying.)

Up at dawn & immediately hit the trail. Struggled a bit with altitude. Haven’t climbed high peaks since early July, compensated with extra water intake.

Rock…lotta rock on today’s trek. Lucky for me, super hiker Cammy blunted skillz on the prior day’s (Class 4) 14er climb (allowing me to keep pace). Little Bear Friday, Blanca Peak & Ellingwood Saturday. Seriously HARDCORE.

Abandoned poles & rock climbed the last 500 feet – only scary if you look down 🙂

SUMMIT SUCCESS! Genuinely stunning, view created by the gods – SPECTACULAR!

Hiked 1,000ft down to Ellingwood junction, said our goodbyes to Erik (ditched us to fly fish) & started navigating a seemingly endless boulder field. Two misfires, then spotted a descending hiker. Started climbing UP his direction, gathered advice & just kept at it. Wasn’t punking out, eye on the prize. Sooooo much rock. Lotta short breaks – my stomach was churning (altitude & poor food management – hadn’t consumed enough calories, now couldn’t eat).

10:30am – SUMMIT SUCCESS, 2^nd of the day. FAAAANNNTASTIC!

Lost our way on the trek down. Climbed back UP, rock traversed & scoured for safe passage down from Ellingwood’s towering rock shelves. Wasn’t pretty but ultimately made our way on trail near Blanca’s base.

Crashed in my tent for the afternoon. Amazing what sleep can do a body. Highly recommended. Downed a 2^nd packet of food – refueled, all good now. Tagged along & watched Erik fly fish at Como – catch n release, fish were a bitin’.

Lack of serving dishes dictated a formal 3 course meal – a camping fiesta. Hot tea, followed by couscous, followed by Ramen, followed by dehydrated red beans & rice. Yep, kept re-using the same cup. LOL>

High altitude air, alpine lakes, sunsets, fly fishing, star gazing, smell of pine, darting marmots & deer. Absolutely nothing like it in the world. LOVE LOVE my Colorado life.